Watch SNL online: How to stream Saturday Night Live At Home tonight from anywhere on earth

watch snl online
(Image credit: Will Heath/NBC)

Live from their apartments, it's time to watch SNL online, from homes. Yes, Saturday Night Live might seem like a show that's forced off the air because of social distancing, but that's not the case: tonight, Lorne Michaels' cast and crew return to the airwaves.

SNL At Home start time, channel

Start time: SNL at home begins tonight (April 11) at 11:30 p.m. Eastern and Pacific
Channel: NBC

Yes, in alphabetical order, the cast — Beck Bennett, Aidy Bryant, Michael Che, Pete Davidson, Mikey Day, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Colin Jost, Kate McKinnon, Alex Moffat, Kyle Mooney, Ego Nwodim, Chris Redd, Cecily Strong, Kenan Thompson, Melissa Villaseñor and Bowen Yang — will be remotely-producing an SNL episode outside of the storied halls of Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center. 

I'd bet we also see announcer Darrell Hammond and creator Lorne Michaels, mostly because the two love the camera. 

According to Deadline, the contents of the show "are still being figured out," but there will be a Weekend Update segment, with co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che. This episode may show us a different side of Che, who lost his grandmother to coronavirus, and posted to Instagram (in a post that's since been taken down) about how tough the grieving process has been. 

Weekend Update makes the most sense to come back as, at least outside of the show's monologue, it's the simplest segment, all you really need is each host to have a webcam in their apartments, and record a call. Desus and Mero have been recording their show, with a similar format, for weeks.

Other Lorne Michaels-produced shows — The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers — are also back on the air. 

Here's everything you need to know about how to watch SNL online.

How can I watch SNL online with a VPN?

If NBC or SNL aren't available in your location — but you still want to watch this completely unique episode live — you don't need to be thwarted by geo-fenced restrictions. But, with the help of a virtual private network (VPN), you can watch SNL from anywhere, using the services you already pay for.

Our favorite VPN is ExpressVPN, which is easy to use and delivers fast internet speeds, making it simple to set up for streaming in no time at all. It also works on practically any device, starting with iOS and Android and including streaming devices such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick and Apple TV. Plus, game consoles like PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. 

ExpressVPN

Our favorite VPN service, <a href="https://go.expressvpn.com/c/4550836/1330033/16063?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expressvpn.com%2Foffer%2Ftomsguide%3Foffer%3D3monthsfree%26a_fid%3D744" data-link-merchant="expressvpn.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ExpressVPN, is a top choice for those looking to watch Killing Eve season 3. It's got a solid mix of safety, speed and ease-of-use. Plus, you get an extra 3 months free if you sign up for a year. And, heck, if you've never used a VPN before and are curious and not sure, there's a 30-day money-back guarantee if you just want to give it a try.

How do I watch SNL online in the US?

In the U.S., SNL airs on NBC, starting at 11:30 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. Yes, folks on the west coast will have to wait three hours longer than they normally would. 

If you cut the cord, NBC is available on live TV streaming services, but know that each may differ depending on your location, see below for details.

Sling TV Blue

For example the <a href="https://sling-tv.pxf.io/c/221109/1132376/14334?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sling.com%2F" data-link-merchant="sling.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sling TV Blue package includes NBC in "select  markets," so enter your ZIP code when signing up to confirm that you're in the clear. Until Sunday April 12, you can get a Sling Blue trial for free for 7 days, without even entering a credit card (i.e. no need to worry about getting billed). Sling Blue includes AMC, the Food Network, USA and TBS.

How to watch SNL online in the UK

Since Saturday Night Live broadcasts at the ungodly hour of 4:30 a.m. GMT in the UK, it's not surprising that folks across the pond have to wait.

Annoyingly, SNL in the UK still airs at night, on Sky Comedy, when the content isn't live and has aged a little bit. We wouldn't be surprised to learn that people watch clips on YouTube instead.

How to watch SNL online in Canada

In Canada, Saturday Night Live airs at the same time as it does in America, on Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. Eastern | 8:30 p.m. Pacific, both on Global and NBC.

Henry T. Casey
Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)

Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.